MEMBER: Patrick Taggart

Name: Patrick Taggart
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
High School: Father Judge HS
College: Penn State (undergrad) Drexel (grad)
Occupation: Project Engineer (aka Design Engineer)

Personal Bests
5k: 16:27 (2009)… about time to fix that
10k: 59:23 (2019)
Half: 1:25:06 (2010)… think I ran faster in a split for a marathon
Marathon: 3:01:07… still have that 3-hour monkey on my back

Career Highlights: Still waiting for some of those. Haha. I think the first time I broke an hour for Broad St was a fun time because I wasn't specifically training for it. It was just leftover fitness from training for Boston that year. About ten minutes before the race, I had a friend make fun of me that he had a faster time than I had and that basically made my decision for what I was going to run that day. Good way to motivate me on his part.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

By: Kevin Brandon (05/14/2019)

Pat, thanks for taking the time to speak with us. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you end up in Philadelphia and running with PRTC?

What can be said, I guess I am a Philly kid. I grew up in the Northeast, went to PSU Mech E, came back to the city bounced around through all the neighborhoods, have a master's in Bio E from Drexel. Right now, I work in medical products out in Valley Forge, so I spend many mornings on the loop in VF. I really love the food in Philly. I will hit up any and all restaurants, hitting up whiskey & cocktail bars, karaoke nights (the wife hates it), and more recently, been checking out the jazz scene in Philly. In the spring & fall, you can find me behind the clock at many local races timing you guys. Summertime I love to be down the shore in OC or outdoors camping. 

I came to run with PRTC because I use to run Sean and Ben in college. Since then Ben had become a regular training partner of mine and he slowly introduced me to more and more people so it was a natural fit that I join up and make some new friends.

Also, love running trails. The Wissahickon is one of my favorite places!

When did you first become a runner? Did a specific event compel you to take on the sport?

Basically, I grew up running. Skinny kid from Northeast Philly with Pennypack in my backyard it was just felt normal for me. I also did it because my older brother did it. My parents started taking him to CYO XC meets at Belmont and I joined in right alongside. Racing at Belmont was always my favorite.

Once you began running, how did your career develop? Take us through day one to today.

I started running probably in 5th grade. I have a CYO XC shirt still from '96. Then in high school, I started doing well with XC being my specialty, closely followed by the two-mile and mile. In college, I spent about two weeks on the varsity team at PSU and it broke me very quickly. I just couldn't handle 100+ mile weeks. Luckily, that year I found the fledgling Club XC team up there and from there I found the fun of running. After college, I came back to Philly for a job and found various running clubs throughout the city and made a lot of great friends. I have a love/hate relationship with marathons and much prefer training for 5k's and attempting to be fast.

What is a favorite running accomplishment or moment?

My second marathon was a great one. That race just went to plan.

How about a not-so-great moment?

Boston 2012 that race did not go to plan. Temps that day were pushing 90 on the course and it just ate me up and spit me out. Wound up walking a lot of the final 6 miles.

Regarding your running future, what are your near and long-term goals?

For the 5k, near goal, back under 17, long-term goal under 16. For the half, I would like to really train for one. Never have specifically trained for a half. For the marathon, I would finally like to get that sub 3-hour and get back to Boston. I didn't buy a jacket, like an idiot. I've learned I just need to be consistent in my mileage and try to have seasons that build. Trying to work on that. #longtermgoal

Preferred pre and post-race meals?

Pre-race I normally eat a bagel with peanut butter and a banana.

Post-race, use to be chocolate milk or a fried chicken sandwich, but a lot of times now I find myself having some type of protein-rich green smoothie. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Green Smooth is the favorite.

Can you share with us what you're currently up to professionally.

Right now, I am working as an engineer for a medical device company, specifically, I work in spinal implants. It's cool. 

What inspired you to pursue this field?

I always like building things so engineering fit well, but then over the years I just grew to appreciate how amazing of a machine the human body is so I sought to find something in the medical field that would help me to make other people's lives better.

Any non-running related hobbies, hidden skills or talents we may enjoy hearing about?

Surfing and climbing!  You'll find me a lot of weekends climbing somewhere or down the shore in Jersey surfing. I picked up running most mornings so that I could climb at night. I was actually a climbing instructor for many years. I like climbing because it is just like running, you get out of it exactly what you put into it. Surfing is just fun and relaxing.